Latest posts for the topic "Cam"

Cam

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 01:32:06 GMT

I thought I ask have any of you got sports cams, which do you have?

I have decided against a gopro as it is square, I was going to get the Sony AC100 but like with the GoPro the shape is awkward especially if you not wearing a helmet and needs to live in its protective case.

Looking at the bullet cameras with a Rollei coming out top and a ION Air following it, although the ION is maybe better as it has WIFI

I was really tempted by the 7Twenty but some videos on yout ube put me off and there is a camera called the lorex lsc015 but i was put off by it on reviews

any one with any knowledge of these cameras

I want it for skiing but other things too, swimming, cycling, running, horse riding

Re:Cam

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 07:52:04 GMT

I've got a Go Pro 3 Black Edition, from what I've seen, nothing else comes close to matching the Go Pro on quality.

Re:Cam

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 09:42:56 GMT

I have been seriously looking at the Contour 2 or 3. Gets good reviews is not stupidly expensive and output life from the battery is as good as most. Picture quality is good, maybe not quite up to Go Pro standards but when you are bumping around on skis does it really matter (and can you really see the difference?). At about GBP150 it doesn't do all the things the GBP350 Go pro does but the version 3 has GPS etc if thats' what rocks your boat. Contour have NOT gone broke.

Re:Cam

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 09:46:54 GMT

Got one from Lidl for GBP79 and for the price it is amazing.Used it skiing surfing and also running.
Yes it is square but mainly I wear it on a chest mount so its not a problem when skiing.

Re:Cam

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:15:24 GMT

Hello Bonfire,
I've got a Drift HD Ghost that I use on skiing holidays.
The picture quality is excellent for both movies and stills. It is slightly bulkier than the bullet cams but it fits on the side of my helmet. It doesn't seem to be as obtrusive as the box sitting on top.
What is also an advantage over other cameras is that it is waterproof down to 3 metres, straight out of the box. I've got some excellent, and very clear, videos of my son swim training from below.
Hope this helps.

Re:Cam

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:24:48 GMT

thanks for your replies

Collin, the issue I have with the drift is the same I have with the Sony, it needs to live in that plastic case making it even larger, without it, it is vulnerable to damage, especially the screen, or am wrong?

Re:Cam

Fri, 14 Nov 2014 10:00:08 GMT

Bonfire,
There is no waterproofing case with the Drift.
The actual camera is waterproof to 3metres. If you want to go deeper then you buy a case, but if it is just for swimming in a pool then you use just the camera. It had me anxious the first time I used it but there was nothing to worry about. Even the microphone works okay underwater.
As far as the screen is concerned, I have used the camera without any case. I clipped the camera onto my helmet whilst skiing a piste then just put the camera into my pocket. This happened for a full week and no scratches on the lens at all.
If you throw it around it will get damaged, but won't any camera?

The user manual is on the Drift website

Re:Cam

Fri, 14 Nov 2014 10:06:51 GMT

The countour3 is waterproof to 10 metres I think

Re:Cam

Fri, 14 Nov 2014 11:18:14 GMT

I tend to go for a bullet cam less conspicuous on one's person, and the quality is fine ...

Re:Cam

Mon, 17 Nov 2014 20:50:03 GMT

Well I bought a Rollei HD, not having second thoughts.

Re:Cam

Wed, 19 Nov 2014 19:01:34 GMT

You will on the slopes......Go Pro 3 Black all the way ;)

Re:Cam

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 13:11:59 GMT

I had a Contour, which was stolen and I'm also thinking about a replacement. I do have to say that the GoPro seems to produce relatively higher quality videos than the Contour, but as I had a cheaper model, this may be an unfair comparison. I attached it via my goggle strap and this worked well for me. I also liked the simple, big slider on/off switch and 'beep' confirmation, plus laser leveller. All this made it very easy to use. Latterly, I also started to take the Contour off my goggles and hand-hold it, so that I could pan and reduce wobble, which seemed to produce better results, and you can pan sideways as you ski (try that with anything helmet-mounted!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_d-LgkoDmA

I also have a Canon EoD 5D Mk III with a carrying handle

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opteka-Professional-Camcorder-Stabilizing-Handle/dp/B003PBB4ME/ref=pd_cp_p_0/178-0443784-1989309

which I've used for ski videos. This solution is in a different league entirely, but of course, you're talking about GBP4K of camera and lens. And it's both heavy and having a fall could be expensive! But it produces great results (sorry, I don't have a moving video on YouTube):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzc5QF7Syug

If you're taking your DSLR/videocam anyway, then it might be worth trying this out, as the Opteka grip handle is not a hugely expensive item at GBP38.

All-in-all 'though, I have to say that these lightweight cameras, while great, only go so far. To do a really great video of that's a cut above the rest, I think you'd have to have to use a tripod for fixed shooting, and a sophisticated self-levelling carrier for moving pictures. And use a high-end DSLR or videocam. You'd still use the smaller cams, but not for everything.

Last season in Verbier saw trials of drone-based videos to cover the Freeride competition (go to 3:25)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1o39py_freeride-ession-with-de-le-rue-brothers-filmed-by-a-drone-snowboard_sport

I also have a Parrot AR2.0 drone myself, which takes 1080HD, but the one in this film is a 'professional' heavyweight machine capable of carrying a DSLR. I had been thinking of taking my drone out next season, but I'm very nervous about any problems arising from collisions with people. I think it won't be long before you see 'hobby' drones appearing and I'm not sure that I'd welcome this (even 'though I use one myself). There are also problem with controlling hobby drones at higher altitudes, as they can lack the power needed for stability in the thinner air and they tend to only use WiFi, which has an effective 50M distance (the guys in the video obviously have a much more powerful transceiver setup).

Re:Cam

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 17:01:21 GMT

There are regulations concerning the operation of drones in Switzerland. If it weighs more than 500 grams you have to have public liability insurance to the value of CH 1 million and you not allowed to fly them within 100m of 'gatherings of people' so flying one above a piste is probably a no go.
http://www.bazl.admin.ch/dienstleistungen/02658/index.html?lang=fr

Re:Cam

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:40:18 GMT

Thanks for the information - I had been looking for a definitive statement but without success until now. The Parrot AR 2.0 is 380 gms using the outdoor hull, including battery and GPS. It uses an inbuilt camera and foam body to keep the weight down, which is necessary, because the lightweight battery even then only gives it 15-20 mins flying time. This is probably more like 10-15 mins at altitude. The 'line of sight' requirement is the same as in the UK, and many owners buy the GPS module because this allows you to pre-program flights, plus means it will return to the launch point when the battery gets low or it loses the WiFi. Without the GPS, the drone will just hover and then land - for better or worse - if it loses the signal or power.

I still think that I wouldn't use it above public pistes, but it might be OK for aerial shots off-piste, in locations where it wouldn't hit anyone even if it decided to crash-land.

I believe that the Valais ski association has used an 'amateur' drone to film slalom training, but in that case, I imagine that would be on a closed piste with everyone agreeing it's OK. And slalom skiers would be well-protected agains a lightweight collision anyway.

Although I'm a drone owner, I'd agree that the amateur but heavier-payload models pose a bit of a threat: 1Kg of drone carrying 2.5Kgs of DSLR would not be something you'd want colliding with anyone, skier or pedestrian. But then, model gliders pose a similar threat (and generally are flying much faster) and they've been around for years without any serious incidents. They guys in the video had some serious equipment, including what looks like radio control (rather than WiFi), real-time viewing, and excellent stabilising software, but even so the camera work is very good.

Re:Cam

Mon, 24 Nov 2014 21:36:03 GMT

msej449 wrote:I had a Contour, which was stolen and I'm also thinking about a replacement. I do have to say that the GoPro seems to produce relatively higher quality videos than the Contour, but as I had a cheaper model, this may be an unfair comparison. I attached it via my goggle strap and this worked well for me. I also liked the simple, big slider on/off switch and 'beep' confirmation, plus laser leveller. All this made it very easy to use. Latterly, I also started to take the Contour off my goggles and hand-hold it, so that I could pan and reduce wobble, which seemed to produce better results, and you can pan sideways as you ski (try that with anything helmet-mounted!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_d-LgkoDmA

I also have a Canon EoD 5D Mk III with a carrying handle

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Opteka-Professional-Camcorder-Stabilizing-Handle/dp/B003PBB4ME/ref=pd_cp_p_0/178-0443784-1989309

which I've used for ski videos. This solution is in a different league entirely, but of course, you're talking about GBP4K of camera and lens. And it's both heavy and having a fall could be expensive! But it produces great results (sorry, I don't have a moving video on YouTube):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzc5QF7Syug

If you're taking your DSLR/videocam anyway, then it might be worth trying this out, as the Opteka grip handle is not a hugely expensive item at GBP38.

All-in-all 'though, I have to say that these lightweight cameras, while great, only go so far. To do a really great video of that's a cut above the rest, I think you'd have to have to use a tripod for fixed shooting, and a sophisticated self-levelling carrier for moving pictures. And use a high-end DSLR or videocam. You'd still use the smaller cams, but not for everything.

Last season in Verbier saw trials of drone-based videos to cover the Freeride competition (go to 3:25)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1o39py_freeride-ession-with-de-le-rue-brothers-filmed-by-a-drone-snowboard_sport

I also have a Parrot AR2.0 drone myself, which takes 1080HD, but the one in this film is a 'professional' heavyweight machine capable of carrying a DSLR. I had been thinking of taking my drone out next season, but I'm very nervous about any problems arising from collisions with people. I think it won't be long before you see 'hobby' drones appearing and I'm not sure that I'd welcome this (even 'though I use one myself). There are also problem with controlling hobby drones at higher altitudes, as they can lack the power needed for stability in the thinner air and they tend to only use WiFi, which has an effective 50M distance (the guys in the video obviously have a much more powerful transceiver setup).

Your videos are very good, the quality seems fine.

I took out my Rollei out on my bike for the first time weekend, the quality is good although mounting it can be a problem as it does not have a screen or wifi connectivity. Also yet to figure out how to mount it when not wearing a helmet.

As for DSLRs, I bought my Nikon DSLR from Currys two years ago and lives on top of the wardrobe virtually unused, far to heavy and bulky even though it does take great photos; when its batteries are charged.

As for drones, did Merseyside Police not get fined for using one without a license a year or two back, probably a useless bit of info but thought i share it